After the formal recognition of the People's
Republic of China in 1979 by the United States, new checks and balances
were placed upon world affairs. For America, the potential weight of China's
military threat to the Soviet Union would offset much of the American
public outcry over the abandonment of Taiwan. China sought technological
expertise from the U.S., although the Communists remained wary about an
influx of Western culture.

Over the next two decades, commercial and cultural ties were developed.
Foreign trade specialists and venture capitalists flocked to China. Trade
contacts boomed, and Chinese agriculture, industry, and high-technology
pursuits grew steadily.

East-West tensions continued, however, and social conditions were
disclosed that appalled the American people. Human rights issues, legal
and ethical procedures, individual and religious freedoms, the abuse of
the environment - all served to subdue American enthusiasm for relations
with China.

In the late 1980s when suspicions arose that Beijing had sold missile
components to Middle Eastern countries, China denied the sales and the
U.S. lifted sanctions against them. Then in the early 1990s, the facts
proved that the components were purchased from China. Nevertheless, Washington
continues to sell sophisticated technology to Beijing that could eventually
provide for the development of nuclear arsenals in Third World countries.
"The Eagle" may have excellent reasons to forge better relations
with "The Dragon" - but be mindful to always keep one eye open.

Choose one of the following links to learn more and to
see photographs:

Artifacts
on loan, courtesy of:
Cartoon (copy) - "Peiping's Trap for Carter" from the Commission
on the Investigation of Chinese Communist Atrocities--Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace, Stanford, CaliforniaPhotographs - Deng Xiaoping's visit to Washington D.C. in 1979.Message to Congress (copy) - from President Carter about the recognition
of the People's Republic of China. Farewell Speech (copy) - given by Deng Xiaoping before leaving WashingtonMenu Card (copy) - from the State Dinner, 1-29-79.Transcript (copy) - broadcast from Vietnam after it was invaded by
China, 2-17-79.Radio Broadcast (copy) - Moscow accuses the U.S. of involvement in
the Chinese invasion of Vietnam.--Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, Atlanta, Georgia

The United States extended official recognition to the People's Republic
of China in 1979, with the intention of creating closer ties to China
through improved commercial, technical, and cultural relations. Chinese
leader Deng Xiaoping visited Washington D.C. to meet with President Jimmy
Carter and formalize their two countries' normalization of diplomatic
relations. This was the first-ever visit to America by a senior Chinese
Communist official. Former President Richard Nixon also was on hand to
greet Deng, one of the leaders he had met in China seven years earlier
during his historic 1972 visit.
This recognition by the U.S. meant the end of diplomatic ties with Taiwan,
but America continued to retain economic and cultural ties. The Taiwan
Relations Act, passed by Congress, provided for continuing unofficial
relations. These actions by the U.S. continue to be a thorny issue to
the present day. In fact recently, President Jiang Zemin stated that the
Taiwan issue is the biggest barrier to improvement of Sino-U.S. relations.